Deputy Chief Minister, 3 Ministers resign from BJP-led govt in Manipur

In a late-night development, four National People’s Party (NPP) ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar Singh, resigned from the BJP-led government in Manipur on Wednesday (June 17).

The three ministers who tendered their resignations were Tribal and Hills Area Development Minister N. Kayishii, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip, and Health and Family Welfare Minister L. Jayanta Kumar Singh. Joykumar Singh also held the Finance portfolio. T

This apart, The Indian Express reported that three BJP MLAs had also left the party and joined the Congress.t

In separate letters addressed to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Joykumar, Haokip, and Kayishii said, “I am to intimate that I tender my resignation from Cabinet ministership of the BJP-led coalition government of Manipur led by your good self.”

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Joykumar Singh said, “We have submitted our official resignation letters to the chief minister.”

The Manipur assembly is 60-member strong and the BJP now has the support of only 18 MLAs, reports said. (The Manipur assembly’s current strength is 59 after Shyamkumar Singh, elected from the Andro assembly constituency, was disqualified after he defected to the BJP from the Congress).

Manipur’s assembly elections in 2017 threw up a hung verdict. The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party with 28 MLAs, was not invited to form the government by Governor Najma Heptulla.

The BJP, which had 21 MLAs, managed to mop up support from all non-Congress legislators  — BJP (21), Naga Peoples Front (4), National People’s Party (4), TMC (1), LJP (1), and 1 Independent.

(With inputs from Agencies)